Stop-motion for knitting-machines



s. HINELINE.

STOP MOTION FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FIILED MAR. 20. 1920.

wmzm Patented Apr. 19, 1921,

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um'reo STATES PATENT OFF-ICE.

mason s. alumina, or arronauo, nnonn ISLAND, ASSIGNORTO 1301mm. & co.,or

PROVIDENCE, anonn rsmmn, A man comrosnn or Josnrn' J. BODELL, mean-ERICK B. WILCOX, LOUIS ANTONIO LAZO.

Specification of Letters Patent.

C. GERRY, FREDERICK BODELL, HAROLD C. FIELDS, AND

STOP-MOTION FOR KNITTING-MAGEINE$ Patented Apr. 19, 1921.

Application filed March 20, 1920. Serial No. 367,315.

To all whomz'tmay concern:

Be it known that I, EDSON S. HINELINE, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Apponaug, in the county of Kent and State of RhodeIsland, have invented an Improvement in Stop-Motions for Knitting-Machines, of which the following description, in connection with theaccompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on thedrawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to stop motions and particularly to stop motionsfor knitting machines.

.In order that the principle of my invention may be readily understood,I have disclosed a single embodiment thereof in the accompanyingdrawing, wherein-- Figure 1' is a plan view of a part of a circularknitting machine having my invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section upon an enlarged scale of a portion of thestructure shown in'Fig. 1;

' Fig. 3 is adetail in elevation of a portion of the structure shown inFig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a detail in vertical section showing a part of the electricalconnections preferably employed in the practice of my invention; and

Fig. 5 is a similar detail of'parts pertaining to such electricalconnections.

An important object of my invention is to provide a knitting machinewith an emergency device which is preferably a stopping mechanism,operative by reason of an improperlylpositioned or defective knittinneedle. y invention may be embodied in nitting machines of various typesand so far ascertain features thereof are concerned it may be embodiedin so-calledstraight or so-called circular machines, but preferably andas herein disclosed my invention is embodied in or used in connectionwith a circular knitting machine for knitting hosiery or other fabricswherein at times the knitting needles or the cam mechanism is or arerotated and at other times reciprocated relative to each other, as formaking the leg, heel, foot and toe of the stocking.

I will disclose my invention as applied to the so-called Banner type ofknittin machine shown in United States Letters atent No. 933,443, datedSeptember 7, 1909, be: deslre 1t to be understood that my invention 113sin no wise limited in its application therereciprocated, and the camring is stationary, and desirably, but not necessarily, my invention ispractised with such an organizathem upon a horizontal pin 3 is a seriesof yarn fingers or levers 4, 5, 6, 8, by means In such type of machine,the needle cylinder is at tlmes rotated and at times is of which thedesired yarns are fed at the proper times to the needles in a manner notherein necessary fully to disclose. Desirably the yarn finger or lever 7is employed during reciprocating knitting to feed the yarn during theformation and fashioning of the heel and toe and the yarn lever 8 isemployed during the knitting of the leg of the stocking. In Fig. 2, Ihave represented the yarn lever 8 as in action and the yarnlever 'Z forthe heel and toe as elevated into inactive position.

In accordance with my invention I provide means preferablyto-intrsectand as herein shown to overlie or overlap the path of theneedles, but which may in any suitable manner co-act or function withrespect to the needle path and in such manner as to constitute anemergency device in the event of needle defect, as, for example, in thecase of an improperly elevated needle due to the breaking of a needlebutt or other accident preventing the needle from being drawn to theproper point by the knitting'cam.

In Fig. 3, I have indicated at 9 the drawing down of .the needlesthrough the agency of the knitting cams in a well known manner and haveat 10 indicated an improperly elevated needle, such positioning of theneedle being due to some needle defect.

In order to cause such improper elevation of a needle and preferably ator in the vicinity of the knitting point, to effect the operathefollowing construction of parts, which I will specifically describe as apreferred embodiment of my invention but to which m invention is notlimited.

pon a lateral extension 11 of the latch ring or ahorizontal platesecured thereto, I

mount a housing 12 having a pin 13 to which is secured a coil spring 14connected to a screw or pin 15 upon said lateral extension or plate,said spring 14 tending constantly to move .the housing 12 toward theright viewing Fig. 1, that is, in a direction away from the (311318 ofneedles 2. Such movement of the housing 12 towardthe right is preventedat times by reason of an arm or bracket 16 extending from said housingand preferably having in the end thereof an adjustable screw 17, the end18 whereof is adapted to contact with the heel and toe yarn lever 7 asindicated in Figs. 1 and 2.

When the yarn lever 8 is in operative position as indicated in Fig. 2 tofeed yarn to the needles during circular or rotary knitting, the yarnlever 7 for reciprocating knitting is elevated into inactive position asindicated in Fig. 2, and preferably through automatically actingagencies characteristic of the so-called Banner machine. When said yarnlever 7 is in its elevated or inactive position as shown in Fig. 2, itholds the housing 12 in its extreme position to the left as indicated inFig. 1, but when the yarn lever 8 is elevated into inactive position andthe yarn lever 7 is lowered into inactive osition, then the screw 17 andarm or brac et 16 are permitted to move toward the right viewing Figs. 1and 2 through the stress of the spring 14 and the housin 12 and allparts carried thereby are similarly moved toward the right viewing Fig.1 so, as to withdraw from functional or active relation with respect tothe needles the means employed by me, which, as hereinbefore stated,preferably overlaps the path of the needles during rotary or circularknitting.

Upon the housing 12 a slide or element having a right line movement andindicated at 19 inFig. 1, is mounted and for that purpose is preferablyprovided with two slots 20, 20 receiving screws 21, 22 extending fromthe face of the housing, or if desired from an inner surface thereof sothat only the end 23 of the element 19 is exposed, the other portionbeing concealed, if desired, within the housing. Upon a pin or stud 24that extends from or is within the housing 12 is mounted a lever 25having an arm 26 provided preferably with two projections 27, 28 adaptedto engage a pin 29 upon the element 19, and in the position of saidelement 19 shown in Fig. 1 to hold said lever 25 in the position shownin said figure. A spring 30 connected at one end to a pin 31 upon thelever 25 and at its other end to the housing 12 or the arm 16 thereoftends to move projections 27, 28.

the lever 25 in a contraclockwise direction.

Such movement is, however, prevented so long as the pin 29 is positionedbetween the The lever 25- is provided with a second arm 32 having acontact member'33 from which extends a suitable wire 34 forming a partof an electriccircuit containing a battery or other source of energy notherein necessary to disclose. Upon or within the housing 12 is provideda second contact 35 from Which extends a wire 36 constituting a part ofsaid electric circuit.

Desirably the lever 25 together with the contacts 33, 35 are positionedwithin the housing so as to prevent all possibility of sparking in anexposed position/ So long as the element 19 is in functioning relationto the path of needles 2 and so long as all the needles functionproperly, the

parts remain in the position indicated in substantially or nearlytangent to the circle of needles'and so as to withdraw the pin 19 I fromengagement with the projections 27 28. Thereupon the spring 30 moves thelever 25 so as to complete the circuit by engagement of the contacts33,35. Thereupon the machine is stopped or any suitable emergency deviceis caused to function, such, for example, as an alarm or indicator.

So long as the parts function properly in circular work, the element 19remains in its owerlapping relation with respect to the needle path, butduring and for reciprocating knitting, and partlcularly where a portionof the circle of needles is elevated'and remains elevated as in theformation of a heel or toe, the element 19 is moved into nonfunctioningposition and desirably through the co-action of the yarn lever-'7, ashereinbefore described.

The element 19, herein represented as a slide, constitutes acatch-releasing element, and one which is adapted to be engaged by adefective needle. Said element is periodically, and desirably forreciprocating knitting for the formation of a heel and toe, moved intonon-functioning position.

Having thus described one illustrative em bodiment of my invention, Idesire it to be understood that althoughv specific terms are employed,they are used in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes oflimitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following;claims. A

Claims 1. The combination with the needles of a knitting machine, anemergency device, and

a member mounted for sliding movement in ing relation with respect tosaid needles and to be engaged by a defective needle, and

thereupon move ina right line, and connections whereby said movement ofsaid member operates said emergency device. 7

2. The combination with a circular series of needles adapted for rotaryand reciprocating knitting, an emergency device, a member mounted forsliding movement in a right line, and having functioning relation withrespect to said needles during rotary knitting and to be engaged by adefective needle during rotary knitting, and means whereby for and durinreciprocating knitting said sliding mem er is positioned innon-functioning relation with respect to the said circular series ofneedles.

3. The combination with a series of needles, a member mounted forsliding movement in a right line and having functioning relation withrespect to said needles and to be engaged by a defective needle, amovable support for said member, and means for periodically moving saidsupport together with said member so that the latter occupies anon-functioning relation with respect to said series of needles.

4. The combination with the needles of a for sliding movement in a pathwhich is sub-. stantially in line with the path'of movement of adefective needle at its time of engagement with said sliding member, andmeans whereby such movement of said member operates the emergencydevice.

5. The combination with a circular series of needles, an emergencydevice, a member cooperating therewith and mounted for movement in apath substantially tangent to saidcircle of needles, and adapted to bemoved in said path by a defective needle, and means whereby suchmovement of said members operates the emergency device.

6. The combination with the needles of a knitting machine, an electricalstop motion, a member cooperating with said electrical stop motion andhaving movement in a right l1ne when engaged by a defective needle, and

provisions whereby such movement of said inember actuates saidelectrical stop mo- 7.- The combination with the needles of a knittingmachine, an electrical stop motion, a member having a right line'movement when engaged by an improperly elevated needle at or near theknitting point, connections between said member and said electrical stomotion, yarn feeding means, and means w ereby' said yarn feeding meansdetermines the period of activity of said member.

8. A knitting machine having a series of needles, a movable housing orsupport, an emergency device carried by the latter, a movable membercarried by said movable housing or support and adapted to be engaged byand moved by a defective needle, and means for periodically movmg sa dhousing or support so as to withdraw said movable member fromfunctioning relation with respect to the needles.

9. A knitting machine having a series of needles, a movable housing orsupport, an electrical stop motion havlng contacts carried by saidhousin or support, a member mounted upon said o-using or support andadapted'to be moved b an improperly elevated needle, yarn fee ing means,and connections between the yarn feeding means and said movable housingand support to move the latter periodically. v

10. A circular knitting machine having a circular series of needles 2, aslide 19 adapted to overlie the path of the needles and to be struck andslld by an improperly ele' vated needle, a movable housing 12 for saidslide, electrical contacts 33, 35 carried by said housing, a yarn finger7, and connections between said yarn finger and the housing to move thelatter.

11. A knitting machine having a circular series of needles adapted forrotary and reciprocating work, a slide 19 adapted for movement in aright line and in a path substantially tangent to the circular needles,contact members 33, 35 of an electric circuit of a stop motion, a lever25 carrying the contact member 33 and having engagement with said slide19.

12. A knitting machine having a circular series of needles adapted forrotary and reciprocating work, a slide 19 adapted for movement in aright line and in a path substantially tangent to the circular needles,

contact members 33, 35 of an electric circuit therewith, the latterhaving one or more yarn fingers and also having a movable housing,contacts for an electrical stop motion carried by said housing, a slide19 also carried by said housing, operative connections between saidslide and said contacts, and

operative connections between a yarn finger and said housingperiodically to move the latter.

'In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

EDSON S. I-IINELINE...

